UPDATED: DC Comics Announces Promotions, Staff Changes

Update Friday, 12/3/2010: Friday afternoon brings more news of DC Comics comings and goings, with publicity manager Alex Segura announcing his departure from the company on the publisher's official blog, The Source. Segura noted that he was not "leaving" the comic book industry, but did not disclose any future plans.

Also on Friday, DC announced the hiring of Amit Desai as Senior Vice President, Franchise Management for DC Entertainment. On Thursday, Mark Chiarello, one of the driving forces behind Wednesday Comics, was promoted to VP Art Direction & Design.
DC's official press release of the Desai hiring follows:

Amit Desai Named SVP – Franchise Management, DC Entertainment

(December 3, 2010) Amit Desai has been named Senior Vice President, Franchise Management for DC Entertainment at Warner Bros. The announcement was made today by John Rood, EVP of Sales, Marketing and Business Development. Desai will be based in Burbank and report directly to John Rood.

“Amit is coming to DC Entertainment with a proven track record in building brands both inside and outside Warner Bros.,” said Rood. “That he’s already well-versed in our characters and brands from his experience working on the DC Universe animation business is an added bonus.”

In his new role, Desai will develop and implement the individual franchise plans for Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, MAD Magazine, Vertigo titles, and other DC properties. This will include driving wider cross-promotional support across all Time Warner divisions.

Amit Desai joined Warner Bros. in 2004. Most recently, he was responsible for Warner Home Video’s non-theatrical family and animation business. During his tenure with Warner Home Video, Desai helped grow non-theatrical family & animation revenue +45% and secured #1 studio market share position for first time in business history. Among his accomplishments, Desai is credited with the launch of new franchises such as DC Universe – a series of animated original movies inspired by DC Comics graphic novels.

Desai came to Warner Bros. from the Walt Disney Company where he was responsible for brand management and marketing/synergy activities on behalf of feature films. Prior to Disney, Desai also served in marketing roles at Nestle and American Express.

Desai is a native Californian and was raised in Santa Barbara. He earned a B.A. in Economics and History from UC Berkeley, and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School. Desai resides in Pasadena with his wife and daughter.

Original Story, 12/12010: DC Comics Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras announced some promotions in their New York editorial staff on Wednesday afternoon.
19-year veteran Eddie Berganza has been named Executive Editor of our DC Universe line. Berganza is the one-time Superman editor (for 7 years) before becoming DC's unofficial "Event Editor", overseeing projects like Infinite Crisis, Final Crisis, Blackest Night and the upcoming Flashpoint.
Harras says Berganza will be working "alongside" Superman Group Editor Matt Idelson and Batman Group Editor Mike Mart.
Senior Story Editor Ian Sattler has also been promoted to the position of Director–Editorial, Special Projects & Archival Editions.
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